Valuable Historic Papers
Old newspapers once cost mere cents, and today some of their front pages are worth thousands for the power they hold. Collectors are actively chasing headlines that informed the people about wars ending or tragedies unfolding.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin – Pearl Harbor (1941)
“WAR!” blared across Honolulu hours after Japanese planes struck Pearl Harbor. The Star-Bulletin rushed an extra edition into print, and most copies were handled until they fell apart. Surviving papers are rare today, prized because they captured America’s stunned entry into World War II.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Wikimedia Commons
The New York Herald – Lincoln Assassination (1865)
The New York Herald’s black-bordered edition reported President Abraham Lincoln’s shocking death. Printed the very next morning, it carried raw details from Ford’s Theatre. Since only a few survived intact, this issue now ranks among the most valuable collectibles.
Internet Archive Book Images, Wikimedia Commons
Charleston Mercury – Secession (1860)
When South Carolina left the Union, the Charleston Mercury rushed out its secession notice. Original copies are scarce, especially outside the South, making them highly desirable today because this moment helped stir up Southern sentiment.
Charleston Mercury, Wikimedia Commons
The Times (London) – WWI Armistice (1918)
London woke to victory on November 11, 1918, with The Times declaring, “Armistice Signed”. Four brutal years had ended, and the city erupted in cheers. Collectors especially prize editions that have framed newspaper sets paired with wartime medals, which often command higher prices.
Charles Ransom Miller, Wikimedia Commons
The New York Times – Japan Surrenders (1945)
In August 1945, Americans opened The New York Times to see bold words: “Japan Surrenders, End of War! Emperor Accepts Allied Rule; M’Arthur Supreme Commander; Our Manpower Curbs Voided”. After years of global fighting, WWII was finally over, and the circulation was massive.
Chicago Tribune – “Dewey Defeats Truman” (1948)
Before final results came in, The Tribune printed a premature headline: “Dewey Defeats Truman.” Truman had won, and the mistake became infamous. Most copies were destroyed, but the few that remain—especially complete ones—are among the most valuable misprints in newspaper history.
Byron H. Rollins, Wikimedia Commons
The New York Times – Civil Rights Act Signed (1964)
“Civil Rights Act Signed” appeared in The New York Times on July 2, 1964. The law outlawed segregation and discrimination. If the paper includes coverage of reactions, protests, or commentary from civil rights leaders, it adds even more depth and desirability.
Cecil Stoughton, White House Press Office (WHPO), Wikimedia Commons
The New York Times – Moon Landing (1969)
“Men Walk on Moon” covered by The New York Times on July 21, 1969, after Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon's surface. That morning’s edition sold out quickly, as readers rushed to hold the paper that captured humanity’s first steps beyond Earth.
Original First Moon Landing Newspaper c/o The New York Times (21 July 1969) by JVBA
The New York Times – Apollo 11 Launch (1969)
Collectors rarely stop at the moonwalk—they want the liftoff too. Two days before Armstrong’s famous step, The Times covered Apollo 11’s launch with quiet anticipation. It’s not as iconic as the landing issue, but together they make a complete, frame-worthy set.
The New York Times – Challenger Disaster (1986)
The explosion happened just over a minute into flight, and The Times didn’t hold back. Full-page photos captured national grief. Space enthusiasts chase editions with full spreads, not just headlines. As copies age, intact ones are getting harder and harder to find.
The San Francisco Call – Earthquake (1906)
The quake was devastating, and the fires that followed wiped out most print runs. That’s why surviving copies of this headline are so rare. Smoke-stained editions are especially prized, and demand runs highest in California, where regional history drives collector interest.
BrokenSphere, Wikimedia Commons
New York Times – Polio Vaccine Announced (1955)
Before COVID made vaccine headlines daily, The Times printed one that changed history: Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was declared safe. Relief swept the country. Within two years of this, polio cases in America dropped by nearly 90 percent thanks to the breakthrough.
March of Dimes, Wikimedia Commons
The New York Times – Jesse Owens Olympics (1936)
In 1936, The New York Times reported Jesse Owens winning gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, which embarrassed Hitler’s ideology of racial supremacy. Collectors chase this issue because it captures both a sports milestone and a direct challenge to propaganda.
Dallas Morning News – JFK Assassination (1963)
Kennedy’s assassination unfolded in Dallas, and the Morning News printed its account within hours. Because Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested that same day, editions naming him carry extra value. However, due to widespread reprints, only authenticated, unfolded originals command serious resale prices.
Walt Cisco, Dallas Morning News, Wikimedia Commons
The Los Angeles Times – RFK Assassination (1968)
Victory speech, applause, gunfire—all within minutes. The Times captured the chaos with early morning coverage. Though resale prices trail JFK papers, this issue holds its own when sold as part of a broader Kennedy-era collection.
The New York Times – Titanic Sinks (1912)
Before survivors reached land, The Times had already printed the scale of the disaster: over 1,500 lives lost in icy waters. Original copies are nearly impossible to find, as reprints are everywhere. So, authenticated editions can fetch up to thousands at auctions.
Original uploader was Dsarokin at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
The Washington Post – MLK Assassination (1968)
The Washington Post coverage of King’s assassination is seen as a cornerstone of Civil Rights history. Published in the nation’s capital, the issue detailed the killing in Memphis and the violence that followed, but those complete editions are difficult to locate today.
Rowland Scherman / Adam Cuerden, Wikimedia Commons
The New York Times – Stock Market Crash (1929)
The Times documented the unraveling economy in real time. There was no bold headline. Just numbers, falling fast. The issue captured the shock of Black Tuesday and is remembered as the newspaper that signaled the beginning of the Great Depression.
Work for hire of The New York Times, Wikimedia Commons
The Chicago Tribune – Prohibition Ends (1933)
The country exhaled, and The Tribune printed the repeal of Prohibition in bold. It was not just a headline. It was a mood. When paired with the 1920 “dry” edition, the contrast boosts both value and impact.
brandstaetter images, Getty images
The New York Times – Stonewall Riots (1969)
Collectors chase these rare issues because they represent the moment widely regarded as the birth of modern LGBTQ+ activism. The New York Times reported the Stonewall riots in June 1969, right after a police raid sparked nights of resistance in New York City.
The Times (London) – Queen Elizabeth II Coronation (1953)
The beginning of a seventy-year legacy was heavily documented. The Times marked the moment with souvenir supplements that remain in demand. Royalists often seek both the 1953 and 2022 editions to complete the story of Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
Cecil Beaton, Wikimedia Commons
The Washington Post – Watergate Break-In (1972)
The Washington Post covered the June 1972 Watergate break-in with a brief story that seemed routine. Because it marked the scandal’s beginning, this edition gained unique value. Complete first-day issues are harder to locate, making them especially valuable for Watergate collections.
How the Watergate scandal changed Washington by CBS Sunday Morning
The Washington Post – Nixon Resigns (1974)
Facing impeachment over Watergate, Nixon stepped down, and The Washington Post led with “Nixon Resigns”. The headline spanned over the front page in bold, and Gerald Ford was sworn in the very next day, declaring, “Our long national nightmare is over”.
The Washington Post, Getty images
New York Times – MLK “I Have a Dream” (1963)
Martin Luther King Jr. spoke thousands, and The Times documented every word. Collectors seek full editions with visuals, especially those that include the “I Have a Dream” speech in full. Value rises when paired with legislative milestones from the following year.
Associated Press Photographer, Wikimedia Commons
The New York Times – 9/11 Attacks (2001)
No one needed a newspaper to know what had happened. Still, the newspaper printed it with clarity and weight. Two decades later, sealed copies continue to sell—not because they are rare, but because the grief never faded.
